Vacuum-cleaner bag



April 8, 1.941. y R. K. sTERDAHL vAcUUl-CLEANER BAG Fld March 11, 1938 2Sheets-Sheet 1 f-fglz UUUU April 8, 1941.

' R. K. OsTERDAl-n.

VACUUl-CLEANER BAG l Filed ual-n 11, 195s 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 TjT/alPatented Apr. 8, 1941 UNITED VACUUM-CLEANER BAG Ragnar K. sterdahl,Essingen, Sweden Application Maren 11, 193s, serial' No. 195,370

In Sweden March 19, 1937 l 11 Claims.

This invention relates to vacuum cleaners and morepartlcularly to bagsadapted to be attached to the same to receive more or less coarsesweepings and, preferably, also the dust collected by the cleaner, andit is an vobject of my invention to provide a replaceable anddestructlble bag for such purpose, which may be made very cheaply,supplied to the consumer at a very low price and can be shipped andstored in a completely flattened shape, even though it has in use anoutwardly extending annular flange for its safe fastening to thecleaner.

4Another object of my invention is to provide a vacuum-cleaner bag thatcan be secured to the vacuum cleaner by means of an outwardly extendingange which can easily be collapsed, so as to avoid the escape of dustand dirt from the bag, when the latter is removed from the container. Il

Other objects and advantages of my invention will appear from thefollowing detailed description in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal view, partly in section, of the main parts of avacuum cleaner illustrating the improved bag in place.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the flat bag.

Fig. 3 is an end View of the opened bag ready for insertion into thecleaner.

Figs. 4-7 illustrate some steps of manufacturing the bag. f

Fig. 8 illustrates a part of the bag.

Fig. 9 illustrates, partly in section, a modified embodiment of theimproved flat bag.,

Fig. 10 illustrates a modified part of the bag shown in Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 illustrates .another modified part of the bag shown in Fig. 9.

Fig. 12 is a sectional View showing a modifled embodiment of the mouthof the bag shown ln Referring in detail to the drawings, Fig. '1 showsthe air-pervious bag I in place within the casing 2 of the vacuumcleaner which encloses l the motor driven fan 45. The inserted bag hasan annular, radially extending iiange 3 which is clamped between a ring40 and acover 4. The bag I is' placed within a bag 42 of cotton whichhas a metal flange 4I that is clamped between the ring 40 and an annularflange 5 of the casing 2. lThe opening 6 in the cover 4 is connectedwith the suction nozzle (not shown) of the cleaner, and the opening 1 ofthe casing is the outlet for air passing .through the fan 45. A

As shown in Fig. 2, the bag is composed of a mouth portion 8 and aperforated body portion 9 which has aps I0 cut out in its wall. In themanufacture of the bag a band I6 of paper or another suitable sheetmaterial is provided with transverse creases II and I2, a longitudinalcrease I3 and creases I4 extending diagonally between the creasesV IIand I2, as shown in Fig. 4. These creases have the effect of pleatingthe mouth portion of the bag. Thereafter, the band I6 is foldedtransversely along the creases II and I2, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6,whereafter a strip I5 is glued to the folded band immediately below theforated sheet material, so that the lower parts of the folds I'I arecollapsed between the band I5 and the sheet I8. The perforations of thesheet I8 are formed by the out out flaps I 0 the ends of which havesuitably narrow and fragile connections 2l with the sheet I8.Thereafter, bag blanks are cut out, and said blanks are folded alongdefinite folding creases to form a collapsed bag that has a sealedSatchel bottom 22, as shown in Fig. 2. All parts of the bag consistpreferably of paper or another suitable combustible material. The bag.thus manufactured is very cheap as it can be manufactured completelyautomatically in a slightly modified machine for making commercial paperbags. One or a plurality of the vacnum-cleaner bags can be enclosed intheir flattened state in a hat envelope, since the portion of the bagthat is adapted to form an annular attaching flange forms a directextension of the bag when the latter is collapsed. Thus they can easilybe packed, stored, shipped and distributed and even though, when in use,they are intended to form a substantially cylindrical collector havingan outwardly extending annular flange for a particularly safeattachment. For the purpose of inserting the bag into the cleaner casing2 the folded mouth 8 is bent outwards to form a substantially annularflange 3 (Fig. 3) which obtalns a regular polygonal shape as the creasesI4 facilitate a regular unfolding of the folds I1. When the mouth 8 isbent outwards its doubled portion I9 is unfolded. The forming of theflange crease I3 can assist thereby. Therefore, there is no danger thatthe bag .will be inserted into the cleaner in an incorrect positionwhich might cause rupture of the bag when in use subjected Dre to airpressure and the load of collected dirt and dust.- Furthermore. nouncontrolled deformation of the bag will occur when subjected to airure.

It is provided by way of example that .the bag now described is intendeditself merely to trap relatively coarse particles, such as fibrousmatter,

and to let through air and fine dust through the flaps I the connections2i of which are ruptured when the bag is subjected to suction. Thus thisbag has substantially for its object to collect fibrous matter, so thatthe cleaner can be in use for a very long time before it will benecessary to release and clean the ordinary fabric bag. I

have experienced that the disagreeable task of cleaning the outer fabricbag 42 will not be necessary untilafter a very long time of use, sincethe felted fibrous matter trapped by .the perforated paper bag will forman air-pervious layer that porous filler 23 consisting of fibrouslignocellulose enclosed within the wall 9 and an inner openwork wall orlining 24 which affords large openings 26. I have found by experiencethat a filler of fibrous lignocellulose is particularly well adapted forthe purpose as it will not be unduly felted when the bag is in use orstored. In the manufacture of the bag illustrated in Fig. 9, the filler23 is first glued to a web of open-work lining leavingmargins 26 and 2lextending beyond the filler. Thereafter, a web of paper having cut outflaps I0 covering its perforatlons is glued at some points to thefiller. 'I'he folded bandv 8 is made substantially in the mannerheretofore described but it is provided by way of example that a fiatband 28 is doubled on and glued to both sides of a margin of the foldedband 8. 'I'hereafter, the band 28 is glued to the margin 26 and to theadjacent edge of the wall 9, so that an air tight joint is obtained. Themargin 21 of the lining 24 is,tightly attached to the wall 9 by means ofa strip 29 which is glued to the inner side of the wall 9 and to themargin 21. The blank thus formed with the mouth portion is cut, foldedand 'sealed in the same manner as mentioned above to constitutesubstantially a Satchel bag of paper or similar suitable combustiblematerial. The manufacture of the bag can be carried out completelyautomatically on forming a continuous band composed of the outer wall,`a filler, a lining and a folded band which is fed through the machine.Possibly, a corrugated, air-pervious filler 3l,as shown in Fig. 10, maybe substituted for the fibrous filler 23. As shown in Fig. 1l, thefiller might be covered with a fibrous coating 46 of lignocellulose oranother suitable material. Said coating serves to trap coarserimpurities whilst the filler 9 serves to trap dust` or the like. In theembodiment shown in Fig. l2 the band 8 is glued to the inner side of thewall il. A strip 44 of paper or another suitable sheet material is gluedto the margin 26 of the lining as well as to the band 8, so that an airtight joint is obtained. Such an attachment might be arranged also inthe embodiment shown in Figs. 2 and 3. 'Ihe filler may be saturated 75with one or more suitable matters adapted to adhere dust, absorbmoisture of the air as well to refresh the air passing through thecleaner.'

As the bag with its mouth portion can be fiattened completely it can beenclosed hermetically within an envelope, the additional matters willnot evaporate or be destroyed when the bags are stored. The bag insertedinto the vacuum cleaner assumes when in use a substantially cylindricalshape conforming to the annular shape of its mouth, but it is likely toresume its original fiat shape when the suction effect is changed. Thusthe porous or fibrous finer or coating has a selfcleaning tendency dueto pulsatory movements of the bag Walls.

When using the bag now described, having a air straining filler orcoating, no separate dust collector is needed. I have experienced thatthe bag having substantially the shape of. an ordinary commercial paperbag is sumciently resistant to withstand, without additional supportingmeans, the internal air pressure to which it is subjected when in use.For the purpose of vclearness the thickness of the fillers is shownexaggeratedly in Figs. 9 to 12.

Where in the accompanying claims I have defined the direction of extentof the annular flange portion of the bag mouth when applied in operatingposition in a vacuum cleaner as extending radially, it is to beconstrued as meaning that the flange need not be exactly radial, butthat as long as it has an extent in the radial direction with respect tolthe bag axis, the purpose will be accomplished and the terms of thenently secured against unfolding at a distance from the end of saidmouth portion corresponding to the desired width of said ange, saidupper edge portion being free to be unfolded by bending the mouthportion to form said flange.

2. A vacuum-cleaner bag, having a collapsible body portion and acollapsible mouth portion having substantially the same width as saidbody por-tion and forming a longitudinal extension thereof, saidcollapsible mouth portion consisting of a strip attached at one edge tosaid body portion and having collapsible pleats extending in thelongitudinal direction of said body portion. said pleats being stucktogether at said edge, said mouth portion being adapted to be bentoutwards on unfolding said pleats to form a radially extendingsubstantially annular fiange extending laterally beyond said bodyportion for attachment to the vacuum cleaner.

3. A vacuum-cleaner bag, having a Vcollapsible body portion, acollapsible mouth portion of substantiallythe same Width as said bodyportion and forming a longitudinalextension thereof, said mouth portionconsisting of a strip attached at one edge .to said body portion andhaving collapsible folds forming pleats extending in the longitudinaldirection of said body portion, and another strip adhesively applied tosaid edge of said pleated strip transversely to said body portion toretain said pleats in flatly folded condition at a distance from thevupper edge of said mouth portion, `said mouth portion being adapted tobe bent outwards on unfolding the upper part of said collapsible pleatsto form a radially extending substantially annular flange extendinglaterally beyond said body portion for attachment to said vacuumcleaner.

4. A vacuum-cleaner bag, having a collapsible body portion and acollapsible mouth portion of substantially the same width as said bodyportion, said collapsible mouth portion forming a longitudinal extensionof said body portion and having folds forming pleats extending in thelongitudinal direction of said body portion, said mouth portion beingadapted to be bent outwards on unfolding said pleats to form a radi--ally extending substantially annular flange extending laterally beyondsaid body portion for attachment to the vacuum cleaner, said pleatsbeing formed to impart to said ange a polygonal periphery.

5. A vacuum-cleaner bag, having a collapsible body portion and acollapsible mouth portion of substantially the same width as said bodyportion, said mouth portion forming a longitudinal extension of saidbody portion and having collapsible folds forming pleats extending inthe longitudinal direction of said body portion, said mouth portionbeing adapted to be bent outwards on unfolding said pleats to form aradially extending substantially annular flange extending laterallybeyond said body portion for attachment to the vacuum cleaner, saidpleats having creases extending diagonally between their longitudinaledges.

6. A vacuum-cleaner bag, having a. collapsible body portion, acollapsible mouth portion of substantially the same width as said bodyportion, and a bottom which isfoldable in fiat relationship to said bodyportion and said mouth portion, said collapsible mouth portion forming alongitudinal extension of said body portion and having collapsible foldsforming pleats extending in the longitudinal direction of said bodyportion, saicimouth portion being adapted to be bent outwards onunfolding said pleats to form a radially extending substantially annularflange extending laterally beyond said body portion for attachment tothe vacuum cleaner.

'7. Alvacuum-cleaner bag, having a collapsible mouth portion comprisingcollapsible pleats extending longitudinally of the bag and being adaptedto be bent outwards to form a substantially annular radially extendingsupporting.

flange for attachment to the vacuum cleaner, said pleats being securedagainst unfolding at a distance from the end of said mouth portiondefining the width of said iiange, the difference between thecircumferential length of the material forming said mouth portion andthe circumferential length of said mouth portion when tion.. saidcollapsible mouth portion forming a longitudinal extension of said bodyportion and having collapsible folds forming pleats extending in thelongitudinal direction of 'said body portion, said mouth portion beingadapted to be bent outwards on unfolding said pleats to form a radiallyextending substantially annular flange extending laterally beyond saidbody portion for attachment to the vacuum cleaner.

9. A vacuum-cleaner bag, having a collapsible body portion composed ofan outer wall and -a lining of fibrous air-straining material. and acollapsible mouth portion of substantially` the same width as said bodyportion, said mouth portion forming a longitudinal extension of saidbody portion beyond said lining and having collapsible folds formingpleats extending in the longitudinal direction of said body portion,said mouth portion being adapted to be bent outwards on unfolding saidpleats to form a radially extending substantially annular flangeextending laterally beyond said body portion for attachment to thevacuum cleaner, said body portion and said mouth portion beingcollapsible to form a flat and smooth lining and envelope completelycovering said lining.

10. A vacuum-cleaner bag having a collapsible body portion composed ofan outer wall and a corrugated lining of air-straining material, and acollapsible mouth portion of substantially the same width as said bodyportion, said mouth portion forming a longitudinal extension of saidbodyV portion beyond said lining and having collapsible folds formingpleats extending in the longitudinal direction of said body portion,said mouth portion being adapted to be bent outwards on unfolding pleatsto form a radially extending substantially annular flange extendinglaterally beyond said body portion for attachment to the vacuum cleaner,said body portion and said mouth portion being collapsible to form aflat and smooth lining and envelope completely covering said lining.

11. A vacuum-cleaner bag, having a collapsible body portion composed ofan outer perforated wall and a lining of fibrous air straining material,a collapsible mouth portion having substantially the same width as saidbody portion and forming a longitudinal extension of said body portionbeyond said lining and having collapsible folds forming pleats extendingin the longitudinal direction o1' said body portion, said mouth portionbeing adapted to be bent outwards on unfolding said pleated folds toform a substantially annular flange extending laterally beyond said bodyportion for attachment to the vacuum cleaner, and a sealing strip forcon` necting said lining to said outer wall, said mouth portion beingattached to the inside of the upper edge of said outer wall and saidstrip extending transversely of said body portion and being attached atits upper edge to the inside of said mouth portion to prevent the upperlter edge from getting loose from said outer wall when said mouthportion is folded outwardly.

RAGNAR K. STERDAHL.

CERTIFICATE OF QORRECTI ON.

v Patent No. 32,257,169. April 8, 19h11..

RAGNAR K. 'sTERDAHL It is hereby certified that error appears in theprinted specification of the above numbered patent reqniring correctionas follows: Page 2, second column', line 70? claim, before the word"mouth" insert -collalpsib1e;

page 5, second colmnn, line 57, claim lO', before "pleats" insert -said;

and that the v:said Letters Patent should be read with this correctiontherein that the same may conform to the recordof the case in the PatentOffice.

Signed and sealed this 27th day of May, A, D. 1914.1.

Henry Van Arsdale, -(Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents.

